Wellington HZ272 damaged by flak, landed at Skipton on Swale airfield.
This 432 Squadron aircraft took off from Skipton on Swale at 22.41hrs on 23rd May 1943 to undertake an operational flight to bomb Dortmund. This was first time 432 Squadron flew operational sorties within Bomber Command. This crew bombed the target area at 01.10hrs on the PFF markers but the aircraft was damaged by a flak burst over the target. The flak burst injured the navigator in the head and although seriously injured he remained at his post, the crew made a safe landing back at base of Skipton on Swale at 03.54hrs.
The navigator, Sgt Collins, sustained a fractured skull. On landing at Skipton on Swale he was immediately admitted to Northallerton's Friarage Hospital. Once deemed fit enough he was discharged to Leeming airfield sick quarters to recover. He was awarded an immediate DFM for his actions on teh night of 12rd / 24th May 1943, Gazetted on 6th July 1943. The citation adds a lot of detail and reads.. "This airman was the navigator of an aircraft which attacked Dortmund one night in May 1943. Whilst over the target area, Sergeant Collins was wounded in the head and sustained a fracture of the skull. Although weakened by the loss of blood, he refrained from informing his captain of his injury until the target had been bombed and the aircraft was well clear of the area. Displaying outstanding fortitude, Sergeant Collins calmly executed his duties and plotted courses for the homeward flight. He did not desist until a safelanding had been effected when he collapsed and was removed to hospital in a semi-comatose condition. This airman set a fine example of courage, fortitude and devotion to duty."
Pilot - P/O Fred Thompson Dingwall RCAF (J/17798).
Navigator - Sgt Lloyd George Collins RCAF (R/134085). Injured.
Bomb Aimer - Sgt Francis James Naylor RAFVR (1462297).
Wireless Operator / Air Gunner - Sgt Joseph David Edmond Lachappelle RCAF (R/104776).
Air Gunner - Sgt W Leadley RCAF (R/120994). (Possibly Sgt W R Leadley RCAF).
Sgt Lloyd Collins was probably still being treated at Northallerton Friarage Hospital when the surviving members of the crash of Wellington HE553 were almost certainly admitted to the same hospital. Lloyd Collins was born in Marchwell, Saskatchewan, Canada and enlisted for RCAF service in Winnipeg in September 1941. He was presented with his DFM by King George VI on 30th November 1943.
On the night of 29th / 30th May 1943 Dingwall, Naylor, Lachappelle and Leadley were flying at operational flight to bomb Wuppertal with a different navigator and also with a second pilot when the flew into high ground on return to Yorkshire. The aircraft crashed at Fremington Edge, above the village of Reeth in Swaledale. P/O Dingwall and the second pilot were killed while the others received injuries. Fred Dingwall is buried in Ripon Cemetery, Yorkshire. He was twenty nine years old. This incident I detail on its own webpage
here.
Wellington HZ272 was built to contract B.92439/40 by Vickers Armstrong's Ltd, at Squires Gate and was awaiting collection in January 1943. The aircraft was initially allotted to 426 Squadron at Dishforth on 25th February 1943 but this appears never taken up. In February 1943 the aircraft was taken on charge by 424 Squadron at Topcliffe but the aircraft's AM Form 78 does not mention this. Perhaps the AM Form 78 incorrectly states 426 Squadron and it should read 424 Squadron. On 13th March 1943 and then on 9th April 1943 it sustained minor flak damage which resulted in Cat.A/FB damage assessments and a repair on site at Topcliffe being carried out each time. On 18th April 1943 it was transferred to 427 Squadron at Croft. On 2nd May 1943 it was transferred to 432 Squadron at Skipton on Swale. On 24th May 1943 it was damaged by flak which would have resulted in Cat.A/FB damage and a repair on site was made by a team from Vickers at Weybridge. It was returned to 432 Squadron on 26th June 1943. On 5th August 1943 it was transferred to 82 O.T.U. at Ossington. On 17th June 1944 it was taken on charge by 86 O.T.U and received Cat.B damage in mid-October 1944. In March 1945 it was taken on charge by 10 A.G.S. at Walney Island but on 19th May 1945 it hit a sand dune on approach to land at Walney Island causing the undercarriage to collapse on touch down. The aircraft was deemed beyond repair and written off with Cat.E2/FA damage being the damage assessment. It was struck off charge on 28th May 1945.